Concept of world no tobacco day.Smoking kills cancer,
As India rises to prominence in an unpredictable and rapidly changing world the persistent tobacco epidemic continues to remain one of the gravest public health threats in the country. India faces a significant tobacco consumption issue, with 27% of the population aged 15 and above using tobacco in 2020, and over 120 million adult smokers.
The alarming prevalence of both smoking and oral tobacco forms calls for progressive policies that align with users’ psychometric journeys to minimize their impact. On this World No Tobacco Day, subject matter experts and members of the Global Sustainability Alliance’s (GSA)’Leadership Council for Good Health and Well-being, a coalition uniting stakeholders committed to achieving equitable and sustainable goals, passionately highlighted the urgent need for adopting progressive harm reduction strategies that could potentially save 1.35 million lives annually.
India is on the verge of becoming a global economic leader, and it is crucial for policymakers to adopt effective strategies to improve public health. Increased awareness of health risks is essential for a healthy population, which is vital for India’s competitive advantage. Implementing progressive policies is not only necessary for a tobacco-free nation but also to mitigate the health and economic burdens imposed by tobacco use. Harm reduction and innovative strategies can save lives and lead to a healthier future for India. Prof. Dr. R Zimlichman, Director of the Brunner Institute for Cardiovascular Research at Tel Aviv University’s Sackler Faculty of Medicine, said, “The world needs standardized alternatives promoted by governments for their safety and efficacy. Delay in implementing these measures costs millions of lives worldwide.”
